***Champions v Dippers Official Match Thread***

[KinkyKinkladze]

We're a team in transition. Half the squad are finished at top level and while we knew it was coming, today was the one where you sat there and thought yep, time to say goodbye to so many who gave us everything. I honestly think the drive and determination is still there with most of them, I just think their legs and bodies aren't. Seeing Kevin the way he is is just heartbreaking, Bernie too. We've been lucky that our new era club legends have all left us in their own time, one by one. This year we're looking at half the team going. Yes, chronic mismanagement by the higher ups who buy and sell (Pep has fuck all to do with signings, that much is obvious) but it is what it is.

My anger for the season is gone. I'm just going to support them as per and hope we get chumps league early, then enjoy the final few games watching some of our greatest ever players in their swansong.

That cheeky burger stain cunt better sign wirtz before he fucks off though.

[Nick]

Whats the point in playing slow turgid shit with these looking like they give no fucks, sleep walking to 8th

Rather play the whole EDS with the new lads

[Kippax Sean]

4th place will be a minor miracle as things stand at the minute. Let's see if echeverri and Reis get any game time in the FA cup fixtures and limited minutes in the league. 3 or 4 more games with the new signings will give us all a better idea of quality but I think khus will become a giant. Today and Madrid game left Nico exposed but I think he'll come good. Onwards and upwards.

[Nick]

Pep pleased with desire and passion? Is he on mushrooms? Literally the two things we lack bar kusonov

[john@staustell]

4th place will be a minor miracle as things stand at the minute. Let's see if echeverri and Reis get any game time in the FA cup fixtures and limited minutes in the league. 3 or 4 more games with the new signings will give us all a better idea of quality but I think khus will become a giant. Today and Madrid game left Nico exposed but I think he'll come good. Onwards and upwards.

The FA cup is all we have. Needs to be our best team, whatever that is

Not for experimental 'game time' this year

[blues2win]

People having a crack at Doku need to open their eyes. He had no one to aim at especially in the second half. Just a wall of red shirts. I don’t think we played badly just not well enough. Rodri back plus a class right back and a top class midfielder to replace Kevin will change things dramatically. Not a surprise that Rico can’t cut the mustard at RB but Phil was playing in central midfield and was poor as well. He needs to shape up quickly. It would be nice to see something of Bobb and Echeverri in the latter part of the season. Except for Ederson and Kevin that was a young team out there.

[Kippax Sean]

4th place will be a minor miracle as things stand at the minute. Let's see if echeverri and Reis get any game time in the FA cup fixtures and limited minutes in the league. 3 or 4 more games with the new signings will give us all a better idea of quality but I think khus will become a giant. Today and Madrid game left Nico exposed but I think he'll come good. Onwards and upwards.

The FA cup is all we have. Needs to be our best team, whatever that is

Not for experimental 'game time' this year

No one mentioned experimenting. Marmoush Nico and khus have all been thrown into the first team and it's improved us. Plymouth at home is the perfect game to look at the other new signings. Probably the easiest game we'll have for the rest of the season, certainly easier than Spurs, forest and then Brighton. Lewis has been poor his last five games. Bernie Kev nunes and gundo are not up to the task either. Foden Dias and Ake in poor form. Anyone who comes in as a replacement cant be any worse.

[Mase]

People having a crack at Doku need to open their eyes. He had no one to aim at especially in the second half.

I watched the last ten and Doku failed the control a simple ball and it went out for a throw. He beat a man then cut inside to get tackled when he could have made an effort to at least get the ball in the box.

[patrickblue]

We're a team in transition. Half the squad are finished at top level and while we knew it was coming, today was the one where you sat there and thought yep, time to say goodbye to so many who gave us everything. I honestly think the drive and determination is still there with most of them, I just think their legs and bodies aren't. Seeing Kevin the way he is is just heartbreaking, Bernie too. We've been lucky that our new era club legends have all left us in their own time, one by one. This year we're looking at half the team going. Yes, chronic mismanagement by the higher ups who buy and sell (Pep has fuck all to do with signings, that much is obvious) but it is what it is.

My anger for the season is gone. I'm just going to support them as per and hope we get chumps league early, then enjoy the final few games watching some of our greatest ever players in their swansong.

That cheeky burger stain cunt better sign wirtz before he fucks off though.

Exactly the way I see it. Good post

[patrickblue]

People having a crack at Doku need to open their eyes. He had no one to aim at especially in the second half. Just a wall of red shirts. I don’t think we played badly just not well enough. Rodri back plus a class right back and a top class midfielder to replace Kevin will change things dramatically. Not a surprise that Rico can’t cut the mustard at RB but Phil was playing in central midfield and was poor as well. He needs to shape up quickly. It would be nice to see something of Bobb and Echeverri in the latter part of the season. Except for Ederson and Kevin that was a young team out there.

Completely agree with you. It's his job as a winger to get the ball into the box, which he was doing with great regularity.

[patrickblue]

People having a crack at Doku need to open their eyes. He had no one to aim at especially in the second half.

I watched the last ten and Doku failed the control a simple ball and it went out for a throw. He beat a man then cut inside to get tackled when he could have made an effort to at least get the ball in the box.

The last ten minutes was no reflection on Doku's contribution yesterday. By that stage of the game, after putting crosses in all afternoon with no-one getting in a position to get on the end of them, he started trying to do the job himself. And everyone mis controls a ball now and then.

[patrickblue]

This result doesn't reflect our performance today. Team has significantly improved & we continued to dominate possession/midfield with intent to attack. We won most of the midfield battles and literally forced them to park all their 11 players inside their own box. We also dominated the game right from the start & if it wasn't for their first deflected goal, result may have been different. Outstanding performance from Doku, Khusanov & Nico. Yes, Nico played brilliantly today doing all the horse-work that barely gets noticed.

I quite agree with you. We were all over them for practically the whole game, and were undone by our normal frailties, the defence switching off, and lack of penetration.

[Mase]

People having a crack at Doku need to open their eyes. He had no one to aim at especially in the second half.

I watched the last ten and Doku failed the control a simple ball and it went out for a throw. He beat a man then cut inside to get tackled when he could have made an effort to at least get the ball in the box.

The last ten minutes was no reflection on Doku's contribution yesterday. By that stage of the game, after putting crosses in all afternoon with no-one getting in a position to get on the end of them, he started trying to do the job himself. And everyone mis controls a ball now and then.

Will take your word for it.

Never seen Kolarov miscontrol a ball, but okay.

[nottsblue]

4th place will be a minor miracle as things stand at the minute. Let's see if echeverri and Reis get any game time in the FA cup fixtures and limited minutes in the league. 3 or 4 more games with the new signings will give us all a better idea of quality but I think khus will become a giant. Today and Madrid game left Nico exposed but I think he'll come good. Onwards and upwards.

The FA cup is all we have. Needs to be our best team, whatever that is

Not for experimental 'game time' this year

No one mentioned experimenting. Marmoush Nico and khus have all been thrown into the first team and it's improved us. Plymouth at home is the perfect game to look at the other new signings. Probably the easiest game we'll have for the rest of the season, certainly easier than Spurs, forest and then Brighton. Lewis has been poor his last five games. Bernie Kev nunes and gundo are not up to the task either. Foden Dias and Ake in poor form. Anyone who comes in as a replacement cant be any worse.

Plymouth at home is the perfect opportunity to go full strength to get through to the qtr finals.

No more no less

[Mase]

Just on Doku - he’s older than Sané was when he joined us, older than Sterling was when he joined us (I’m using those two as examples because they were wingers) Does anyone actually think he’s going to make it with us? Those two players were levels above Doku when they first joined and developed to get even better. I can’t see it personally but I hope I’m wrong.

[blues2win]

Foden supposedly playing a false nine ended up our only outlet in the box, Surprised Marmoush and Kevin weren't making late runs into the area, particularly Marmoush. Maybe Gundo would have been a good option also for that purpose. If Haaland isn’t fit for Wednesday the same system could work but we must get players in the box.

[PeterParker]

As a fan I really hoped not to lose yesterday against this lot.
Not give them the satisfaction on winning in our ground. Same with Madrid.

[Blue In Bolton]

Just on Doku - he’s older than Sané was when he joined us, older than Sterling was when he joined us (I’m using those two as examples because they were wingers) Does anyone actually think he’s going to make it with us? Those two players were levels above Doku when they first joined and developed to get even better. I can’t see it personally but I hope I’m wrong.

I would play Savinho on the left and Doku on the right just as Sané and Sterling were used in Pep's second season so they use their natural width instead of coming back inside all the time. At the moment, it is just up blind alleys most of the time with very little success with Doku.

[Indianablue]

Echeverri will stir things up. I have high hopes of him replacing KDB and Gundo. I'd even try Grealish with him and gonzalez covering. It ain't all bad and we have young team once the old guard are moved on

[salford city]

Echeverri will stir things up. I have high hopes of him replacing KDB and Gundo. I'd even try Grealish with him and gonzalez covering. It ain't all bad and we have young team once the old guard are moved on

I don't know anything about this young Argie other than the much used next messi quotes. I'm hoping he can bring some life to our midfield and help Gonzalez. Grealish is a goner he could not get a game in most of the time that Rodders has been out so he will be off in the summer